Andre Arshavin is and has always been somewhat of an enigma. He can look like one of the best players in the world in one game but then you will not even know he is on the pitch in his next game. Unfortunately, it has been the latter in recent times. The 31-year-old is reportedly not going to be offered a new deal once his current contract expires at the end of the season. He has fallen down the pecking order this season, and has featured in only 7 Premier League games. He has only scored once in eleven appearances in all competitions and he spent the second half of last season on loan at his first club Zenit Saint Petersburg.
The former Russia captain has become so disillusioned with life in London that he does not wish to play football anymore. In a shockingly revelation, Metro has reported that the midfielder is considering retirement at the end of the campaign.
According to the Evening Standard as mentioned in the story, Arshavin split from his wife Julia last year around the time she gave birth to their third child. He spends most of his time in the UK and is supposedly dating an unknown English woman.
The left-sided attacker is keen to stay in England, but may have lost his love for the game due to the lack of playing time at the Emirates. Despite his obvious potential, he has not received any offers from a Premier League side. With his contract due to expire in 6 months, he was free to negotiate with other clubs in the January transfer window.
Affordability is being cited as a reason no English club has wanted to take him on board as he earns a massive £95,000 a week. There has been an interest from the likes of Fulham and Reading, but the tricky winger will need to take a massive pay-cut to continue plying his trade in English football.
With a possible move to another English outfit seeming distant, Arshavin is giving serious consideration to retirement. He has, reportedly, already informed his family about his decision to hang up his boots at the end of the season, at the very young retirement age of just 32 years.